The Washington critic., 1887-08-08
WASHINGTON, AUGUST $, 1887
mR. WHITNEY AND THE PALos.

secretary W Hllncy Ituuht W lnTcc
of his principal advisers. and emphatic
declaration against the long established
practice of The Department of paying
oxorbitant bills for rcpnlrs on old and
almost worthless vessels, I, ouc of the
most vigorous documents that has issuel
from that Department since the days
of Wm. l. Chandler, and more vigor.
Gus than any ever before addressed by
him to officials SO hi-h in trust AMI
rank.
In the general principle laid do vn,
there can be no doubt ut the correct.
ness of Secretary Whitnrl : views.
1t is undoubtedly tue thnt the D..
partment should npt continue to excuse
the deficiencies of CuugrcsS by contnu
ing to keep allogt vessels which could ne
replaced by better ours NJ less imam the
cost for repairs, or their original cost.
On the other hand the Naval Board
has the excuse Of q long line Of prece,
dents, constituting an established prac.
iice, and the plea lhn, it was necessary
10 keep the vessel in service unit
another could be provided t. take her
place. and that thorough repairs only
would be of real service and accomplish
the object.
A change had to be sooner or later,
however, and II Is probably well that
Mr.. Whitney has drawn the line at the
Palos. If vessels of that class are
needed in Chinese or other waters let
them be built expressly for the service
intended and upon modern rather than
antique plans.
According TO the books of The Navy
Department, the Palos stands charged
with 5000 as first cost of construc.
tion and with $ls3,2is for repairs
already made. These amounts, with
the s45,OOO additional repairs proposed,
run up her bill to the luxurious amount
of 5000, PAS for steamer that can be
duplicated, we are told, for $4,000.
The Secretary is right In interposing
to stop any further eXtravagant outlays
in what must have been, to judge by
the figures, most Improbable
direction.
SECRETARY WnITNEY's cableGram
TO Rear Admiral Luce of the North
Atlantic Squadron, calling that officer
10 somewhat severe account for trans.
Cendipg his authority in dealing with
Captain Scott Of The Canadian Fishery
Service, was based upon the following
from Admiral Lucc's report to the
Department:
As there appeared to be- want Of informa.
tion on the part of our fishermen operating in
the waters OF the Gulf OF 81. Lawrence In re-
gard TO the restrictions imposed upon foreign
fishing vessels by Canadian laws, series nt
inteirogatorcs were submitted to Captain
Scttt OF the Canadian Fishery Service, cover
ing their rights and the statutory restrictions,
and have The honor 10 Toe Ose herewith his
answers. A number Of tn So circulars vii
be distributed among the il>hirg feet for the
information Of those concerned.
The Secretary promptly informs the
Admiral In Effect that in taking the
above action he usurped the function:
of the State Department and betrayed
ignorance of international usages. Ii,
Is also instructed to withdraw all tn,
circulars he has issued and send out nj
more. This is rather peculiar mes
sage to be addressed TO one of the mos
efficient and jealous officers In tn,
navy, but Mr.. Whitney appears to have
had room for his unusual exercise o
discretion. Admiral Luce no doub
believed that he was acting for the bes
Interests Of his Government, and wa
not aware that hts discharge of an in
tended duty constituted serious grounds
of offense. Having committed tn,
error, however, he placed himself In {
position TO be criticised. and the Secre
tary had no alternative left ia The
premises but to call him to halt. Th
Admiral must have been cut to tn
quick when the cablegram reached hin
at Halifax In the midst of a grand re
ception on the flagship, surrounded by
many distinguished guests, but 1t was
case that needed vigorous discipline
and the gallant old sea dog will in al
probability let state affairs severely
alone hereafter.
TuI MpNipnn unuttnrnnn ,rhn op